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Step 1
Hard work produces extra heat within the body that the horse must get rid of. Standing in a small enclosed area in hot weather can have the same effect and staying overheated can be dangerous to the horse. Horses get rid of the heat by radiation or heat transfer using a current of air over the body and evaporation.
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Step 2
Cooling out quickly during hot weather is not dangerous to the horse, but staying overheated is. The fastest way to cool a horse is to pour large amounts of cold water over him. Using a sponge and a bucket can be helpful if more than one person is participating. Otherwise, simply spraying the horse with the garden hose will get the job done. Spray the water on him and use the sweat scraper as you do so until the water you scrape off is as cool as it is coming out of the hose. Pay close attention to his chest, abdomen and between his back legs. Cooling down these areas first will facilitate quicker overall cooling. If the horse is severely overheated you can use water with ice in it, but only under the advice of a professional and should be done only under proper supervision as well.
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Step 3
Simply walking a horse by hand will cool him out if his condition is not severe and the weather is not terribly hot. Otherwise walking in the hot sun will not cool the horse quickly enough and you must resort to using the water hose. You can also tie a horse in the barn and turn a fan on him (from a safe distance) to cool him down. Again if it is terribly hot, this will not be quick enough. Do not use cooling or anti-sweat sheets in hot weather, they are designed to keep heat close to the horse and are meant for cold weather use.
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Step 4
In cold weather steps must be taken to ensure the horse does not get chilled from being wet in cold weather. Foremost, if you are working your horse heavily and he has a heavy winter coat, he will need to be clipped to ensure the hair does not hold the sweat for too long. Walking the horse to get his body temperature back to normal can be done first. If it is cold and breezy the horse must be covered with a cooling sheet made of wool to keep his body heat close to him while keeping a breeze off of him until he dries.
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Step 5
To more effectively dry the horse's coat in cold weather you can use a towel or rag and rub vigorously over the damp areas. Do not let the horse return to his stall or turn-out area until he is completely dry and cool. If the weather is warm the horse can be placed in his stall or turn-out while wet, but his temperature must be back to normal. Normal temperature can be felt mainly on his chest. His skin should be no hotter than your hand. After cooling thoroughly he can be given water, hay and a small amount of grain if it is feeding time. Otherwise wait until his normal feeding time.
